Kamn Ismail: Google celebrates 67th birthday of Malaysian cartoonist

Happy Birthday, Kamn Ismail!

Kamn Ismail (Haji Kamarudin bin Ismail), a cartoonist and innovator in Malaysian animation, turns 67 today, and today's animated Doodle honors him. He performed a significant influence in upgrading the nation's animation sector and creating Keluang Man, Malaysia's first superhero.

On this day in 1956, Kamn Ismail was born in the little seaside town of Pengkalan Balak, Malacca. As a young youngster, he had a love for drawing and dreamed of becoming a comic book creator. He was employed by McMillen Film Company as a teenager to manage the artistic components of the film Paper Tiger after his abilities caught their attention.

 Kamn Ismail's father advised him against pursuing his dream of becoming a professional cartoonist. He was worried that his son wouldn't have a reliable income from Malaysia's developing animation sector.

Kamn Ismail unwillingly decided to postpone his goals. He worked as a clerk and held various jobs at the Keretapi Tanah Melayu railway for the following 17 years. Ismail, however, never lost his aspirations and spent his free time covertly studying computer animation skills.

Eventually, he was given the chance to work for Kharisma Pictures thanks to his skills. Usop Sontorian, Malaysia's first animated television series was directed by him in 1996 after Kamn Ismail educated the company's animators. Ismail soon rose to the position of director at UAS Animation Studios, where he developed the successful animated series Keluang Man. Through the use of both 2D and 3D animation, he brought the character to life. Ismail was a ground-breaking method when it was used, modernizing Malaysia's animation sector.

Ismail’s work has won numerous prizes such as the Best Animated Film at Malaysia Film Festival and was awarded as a Malaysian Animation Icon.

Source: Google doodles

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